Specialist ops cop sets up firm in Hartlepool

Chris Cordner

A former surveillance trainer and specialist operations cop has launched his own company.

Simon Corbett, 42, started his career as a police constable working for Durham Constabulary in Peterlee.

My trainers, and myself with my background, have real-life stories and situations, as well as the best training, to grip our audiences to maximum effect

Simon Corbett, founder of Orangebox Training Solutions

But he climbed the ranks and joined the National Crime Agency and was deployed on investigations across the world, including Holland, Portugal, Marbella, Montenegro, and Kenya.

His surveillance techniques were recognised, so, alongside his operational duties, he embarked on qualifying as a trainer passing on his skills to hundreds of other officers across the globe.

When he left policing after more than two decades, he launched Orangebox Training Solutions Limited, based on Queens Meadow Business Park, in Hartlepool.

He has seven freelance trainers working for him, including three vastly experienced female trainers, and four highly qualified men with emergency services backgrounds.

They deliver courses on health and safety, manual handling, first aid, food hygiene, presentation skills, and childcare, including safeguarding and early years.

He said: “We’re different to other training providers and that’s because of the trainers we have on board.

“They have been trained to the level I believe is needed for them to effectively engage with their audience – whether it be six people or 200 people – to maximum effect.

“A lot of employees will have been on courses where they’re almost falling asleep because they’re so bored, or they can’t connect with the trainer. The company which has paid that trainer has basically wasted its money.

“On average, a person will remember 50 per cent of a presentation, and that will reduce to 25 per cent the next day. A week later it’s down to 10 per cent.

“We have changed that, and people will be remembering 60 per cent of the course a week later, which is a massive difference.”

He added: “My trainers, and myself with my background, have real-life stories and situations, as well as the best training, to grip our audiences to maximum effect.”

As Orangebox grows, Simon plans to expand further and deliver accredited training courses to the gas and oil sector overseas.